Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. II Chronicles 6:27
Chronicles is an historical accounting of Israel’s experience with God before their exile. Much of the events recorded are found in other books of the Old Testament, but Chronicles gives theological perspectives for present and future generations of God’s people.
Solomon is dedicating the Temple. Israel has morphed from people of slavery, through the years of nomadic desert travel to their promised home. They are now people of permanent residence, no longer living in tents, but houses. Therefore, it is appropriate that God have an earthly representation of His covenant fulfilled, a house also.
This prayer of dedication makes known the fact that God is utterly dependable and constant. He is always ready to hear and forgive those who genuinely seek Him and turn from their wrong doing.
Israel’s story is one of sin, consequence and repentance, sin, consequence and repentance. Missing in this cycle? God refusing to forgive and direct. It will never happen. No sin is too great, no secret so buried that God’s mighty power and grace cannot overcome and set things right.
Love,
Gretchen